Where OBS Scene Collections Are Saved

If you want to back up your layouts, move them to a new computer or fix a collection that will not load, you need to know where OBS Studio keeps its scene data. This guide shows the default scenes folder on each operating system, what the files inside it contain, and what they do not include.

Where OBS saves your scenes

OBS Studio stores scene collections as JSON files in a folder named scenes, inside the basic subfolder of its configuration directory. The default paths for a standard installation are listed below.

• Windows: %APPDATA%\obs-studio\basic\scenes
• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/obs-studio/basic/scenes
• Linux (standard package): ~/.config/obs-studio/basic/scenes
• Portable installation: a config folder inside the OBS program folder, then obs-studio\basic\scenes

The quickest way to reach the configuration directory without typing a path is the File menu in OBS, which offers an option to show the settings folder. From there, open basic and then scenes. If you installed OBS through a sandboxed package format on Linux, such as Flatpak, the configuration lives inside that package's own data directory under your home folder rather than in ~/.config.

How scene collection files work

Each scene collection is saved as one JSON file, usually named after the collection. That file describes the scenes, the order and position of sources, filters, transitions and the settings of each capture source, such as which window, display or camera it captures.

OBS may also keep backup copies next to the main file, typically with a .bak extension. The exact file naming and backup behavior can differ between OBS versions, so check the folder contents on your own installation rather than relying on a fixed list.

Scene collections are separate from profiles. Output settings such as bitrate, encoding, recording format, resolution and frame rate belong to profiles, which OBS stores in a sibling folder named profiles inside the same basic directory. Copying only the scenes folder moves your layouts but not your stream or recording settings.

Backing up and moving scenes

For a single collection, the built-in export option under the Scene Collection menu is the safest route, because OBS writes a complete file for you. On the other computer, use the matching import option and select that file.

For a full backup, close OBS first so it is not writing to the files, then copy the whole obs-studio configuration folder. This keeps scenes, profiles and other settings together. Copy only the scenes folder if you want your layouts on a machine that should keep its own output settings.

• Close OBS before copying or replacing files manually.
• Keep the original files until the restored collection loads correctly.
• Copy the profiles folder as well if you also need bitrate, encoder and recording settings.
• After importing on another computer, open each scene and check for sources that show missing files or devices.

Limits and common questions

Scene collection files store references, not media. Images, videos, browser source assets and fonts stay where they were on disk, and the JSON only records their paths. If those files are not present at the same location on the new computer, the related sources will appear blank until you point them to the correct files.

Device-based sources depend on the hardware and drivers available. A webcam, microphone or capture card may have a different name or identifier on another machine, so you may need to reselect it in the source properties. Plugin-based sources only work if the same plugin is installed.

If the scenes folder looks empty or the path does not exist, you may be looking at the wrong configuration location, for example because OBS runs in portable mode or from a sandboxed package. Opening the settings folder from inside OBS shows the directory that the running copy actually uses.

Scene files are plain text and can contain local file paths, window titles and settings from browser sources. Review what a collection includes before sharing it with someone else.